Page 7 of Kane's Fake Relationship

“You said you wanted to drive.”

“Yeah, my car. Not yours.”

“You know how to drive a stick, right?”

“Of course I do. My uncle taught me to drive on a stick.”

“Then let’s go. This car drives just the same as any other. I want to talk and you apparently have some pressing place you need to be. So let’s get going and we will both have our needs satisfied in the end.”

The way he raised his eyebrows at me when he finished the sentence made me want to smack him across his stupid face, but instead I dropped the keys into the cup holder and shifted the car, pulling slowly out of the place they parked us. The ride to the deli took longer than I had hoped. I didn’t know what Kane would think when I pulled up to Harry’s. His fancy car and fancy clothes did not fit my favorite place to eat, not even a little.

“For someone who wanted to talk, you sure are quiet.”

I felt his eyes on me again as he responded, “Maybe I’m just waiting for you to start.”

“Me? I didn’t want to talk, you did.”

He just shook his head and looked forward, sitting there silently until I pulled down the side street that I normally parked on. I turned the car off and reached into the cup holder, giving him the keys. “Come on, let’s go.”

To his credit, he got out and followed me down the block until we were standing in front of Harry’s Deli.

“Do not embarrass me in here, do you understand?”

The corner of his mouth turned up. “Yes, Trinity. I understand.”

I shook my head and reached for the door, pulling it open and making my way inside. The familiar smells of my favorite deli ran through the air and immediately calmed me. I got up to the counter, and I was happy to see Harry’s daughter was working tonight.

“Hey Trin! Whatcha having?”

“Let me get an eggplant sub, a cannoli and a bottle of water.”

“You got it, and what about the hottie behind you?”

“What about him?”

She laughed. “Never mind, I’ll ring you up separately.”

“You can put it on the same tab. It’s my treat.”

She raised her eyebrows, “Wow, handsome, fancy and willing to buy a late-night sandwich. This one may be a keeper, Trin.”

“Shut it.” I said as I reached for the bottle of water and cannoli she had packaged up.

“Here you go, dessert first,” she said, “I’ll have Tony bring everything to the table when it’s ready.”

I looked over and waved at her teenage son and then, without bothering to look back at Kane, made my way over to my regular booth. I watched him as he ordered. He charmed everyone he spoke to with his big smile and friendly features. I had always been leery of men like him, the ones my mother used to call an Eddie Haskell. Good to your face, but up to mischief behind your back.

“This isn’t what I was expecting, but it’s a million times better. Did you see their menu? They have nearly every one of my favorite dishes.”

I smiled. “You could say I’m a regular here. My mother’s cooking gene definitely didn’t pass down to me, so Harry and his family have been feeding me here since I moved to the city. I remember when Tony was so young, the most he could do was bring everyone’s silverware to the table. Now he’s back there cooking alongside his mother and grandfather. It’s pretty cool if you ask me.”

“It is.”

The food came quickly, which I was grateful for. Food was my love language and even though Kane was there, my nervous frayed eating still made me happy.

“So, how long have you been in the city?”

“Ten years, I think. I moved here when I turned eighteen.”

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